Frederick D. Gantt

February 13, 2014

Frederick D. "Freddie" Gantt, 68, of Hedgesville, went to be the Lord on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, after a long illness, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family.

Born Aug. 19, 1945, in Berkeley County, he is the son of Janesa Horner Gantt- Northrop and the late Fred Henry Gantt.

He was a 1964 graduate of Hedgesville High School. After graduating, he went to electronics school. He was employed with Potomac Edison, was owner operator at O'Boyle Tank Lines, and was employed with Berkeley County Board of Education as a school bus driver.

Article Photos

He had joined the Air National Guard in 1965.

He served several terms on the Berkeley County Planning Commission.

He built Gantt's Mobile Home Community and Morgan Village and formed Gantt's Excavating.

He was an instrumental, founding member in forming The Friends of the Norwalk Foundation Inc. that bought the only known 1914 Norwalk Underslung Six Motor Car back to Martinsburg where it was built. He was also a member of the Norwalk Car Club.

In 2007, he received the Hedgesville High School Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Freddie reached out to friends and businesses and together they purchased Polaris rangers to be sent to the Army C Company 1st of the 150th in Iraq. By doing this, he received the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award in 2007, in Washington, D.C., and had the honor of meeting George W. Bush in the Oval Office. He received the Excellence in Community Service Award from the Berkeley County Commissioners in 2010.

Freddie truly loved his family, friends, and community. He loved his "critters," flying, motorcycle riding, restoring antique cars, and teaching young people any of the skills he knew. His contributions to his community and county were numerous.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dianna Pharr Gantt; his children, Janesa Smith and husband, Timothy, Eric Gantt and wife, Leslie, and Daniel Gantt and wife, Sarah; grandchildren, Derick Smith, Trevor Smith, Austin Gantt, Arielle Gantt, Jace Gantt and one grandchild on the way; three brothers, William Gantt, of Harrisburg, Pa., Michael Gantt, of Martinsburg, and Silven Gantt, of Woodbridge, Va.; one sister, Alisa Emmons, of Martinsburg; and "son" Troy Nails, of Hedgesville.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, and Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, at the Independent Bible Church.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating, at the Independent Bible Church, 2306 Hedgesville Road, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Interment will be in Rosedale Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of the Norwalk Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 6092, Martinsburg, WV 25402 or Hospice of the Panhandle.